People who share time, talent and prayer are heroes

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT), The Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold

Published 1:00 am, Saturday, July 1, 2006

Quotes. I like good quotes, like this one from Leo Tolstoy: "If you want to be happy, be."

Good quotes jump out at me when reading novels and biographies, and sometimes even when I get a good Chinese fortune cookie. Little quotes can make me smile, laugh - and also stay on task.
One of my all-time favorite quotes is one that I believe represents a great definition of the purpose of religion, in a mere few words: "What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."
In the United Methodist tradition, we have a fourfold lens to assess our faith and to help make decisions at major crossroads. It is called the "Quadrilateral," as it encourages the use of four perspectives: Scripture, tradition, reason and experience.
The Quadrilateral came to our denomination by way of our founders, John and Suzanna Wesley. The Quadrilateral is an "ancient" way to help "moderns" stay on task.
Margaret is a junior in college. For the last two years, she has worked as a peer leader at the
Association of Religious Communities
' Interfaith Peace Camp.
She stays in touch during the school year by e-mail. When she was home for her last break, she graced my day by sharing a lunch at
The Trellis
in Danbury.
I was happy to hear Margaret is doing well with her studies, is enjoying new friends and is the school mascot for basketball games. She made me laugh as she exclaimed, "Pastor P.J., wearing the mascot uniform gets awfully hot, feels like 1,000 degrees!"
I also was happy to hear that Margaret is going to Mexico in conjunction with the school's department of campus ministry. She is going with a group of other college students. They are not vacationing but, rather, seeking to live with people from another country and lend a hand where asked.
Margaret described the incubation shots she will get in advance. She described traveling light and, in anticipation of tainted water, how the group is planning to "shower" by packing "a ton of towelettes."
Margaret is Roman Catholic. She and I do not have the common language to talk of Mexico in terms of the Quadrilateral and its lenses of Scripture, tradition, reason and experience.
What we do share in common is Micah 6.8: "What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."
Margaret is excited to go on her mission trip. She will give a lot to others. And she will receive a lot. Such is the joy of being in mission; it always goes both ways.
My life has been blessed to be surrounded by many Margarets in our area. Some are Catholic like Margaret and some Protestant like me, and others are Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Unitarian/Universalist and Christian Scientist.
Some are of European descent like me and some are of African-American, Middle Eastern, Southeast Asian or Latino/Hispanic descent. Some have a Ph.D. and some have mastered the schools of life.
I admire people who build bridges of respect, far away and in our local community. I admire groups of people who walk by the various equivalents of Micah 6.8. I admire people who share time, talent, prayer and small resources, like a towelette, that mean a great deal in the right context.
People like Margaret are my heroes, for helping each other connect theology and faith with everyday life and everyday people.
To me, that is staying on task.

The Rev.
Phyllis J. Leopold
is executive director of the Association of Religious Communities in Danbury.